Tag: fantasy

The number of times that we’ve heard, “Oh, I like everything but [insert genre here]” is astounding. Almost everyone has preconceived notions about what they like and what they don’t like. It’s fine – not every genre is for every reader! That said, a lot of times people make broad generalizations about genre and then assume that they won’t like anything in it. In “Getting into Genre,” we’re taking a genre that’s intimidating and breaking it down for you. We talk about what makes the genre great, what you can (and can’t!) expect from the genre, and then recommend 3-5 books for a newcomer. This month, we take on fantasy.

Jess’s Picks1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern2. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow3. Uprooted by Naomi Novik4. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin5. Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

So basically, I think that most people who “don’t read fantasy” are people who actually love fantasy! Almost everyone will admit that they have read or watched Harry Potter, and most (American, anyway) kids are fed a diet of fantasy – Disney movies, portal fantasies like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or The Golden Compass. My list leans heavily on nostalgia – fairy tales with Uprooted, portal fantasies with Ten Thousand Doors of January, and schools of magic with Magic for Liars. Then, I chose The Night Circus because it is a perfect book, and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms because I think Jemisin is the best writer in SFF right now, and she needed to be on the list.

Karena’s Picks1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab2. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern4. An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard5. Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

As a former bookseller, I had to think of the fact that there are a lot of forms of fantasy. So how could I, in five books, tackle that? So starting with A Darker Shade of Magic, I went to the adventure lover. Besides adventure, it has magic, a a lady thief and a bi-eyed boy with an ever-changing coat. What’s not to love. As for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms it’s an epic fantasy with immersive yet accessible world building. The Night Circus I feel is for the literary fiction fans. It’s magic and romance, but has that lit angle to it (and like Jess said, it’s a perfect book). An Unkindness ofMagicians is just plain fun to read and Sorcerer to the Crown is for the historical fans.

What follows is the conversation we had about our picks, fantasy in general, and why we put some stuff in the SFF vs. general fiction sections in the stores where we worked. (This conversation has been edited for clarity and formatting.)

Jess: okay, so what were you generally thinking when you made your list?

Karena: a) how easy is it to jump into the worldbuilding. b) what kind of fantasy is this? also…no dudes. because I’m petty

Jess: yes! no dudes is always a good rule

Karena: I was looking at novellas as well but wasn’t sure which would be a good jump off for a fantasy reader. Like I’ve heard good thinks about JY Neon Yang’s work but i haven’t read it yet

Jess: novellas are so hard! I think they’re really difficult to pull off well

Karena: Passing Strange might be a good one because it has a lot of literary appeal imo but I liked others instead. Like The Night Circus does that as well.

Jess: oooo Passing Strange is a good one! I loved that book. queer ladies in an alternate history magic world? yes. please. but I think that’s more my wheelhouse than a good jumping off point for a newbie. The Night Circus definitely appeals to a more literary audience

Karena: my old bookstore had The Night Circus in the fiction section for years until i fought for it to go in SFF

Jess: ooo interesting. I actually fought to put The Night Circus in the fiction section!

Karena: I fought because all too often SFF is only this really cheesy genre and I wanted to show SFF could be literary

Jess: that makes total sense to me. when I started at my store, the SFF section was tinyyyy and kind of hidden away (I was a huge factor in expanding and moving it!) but no one browsed it back then, and I didn’t want The Night Circus to get lost. also it was an early experiment in this for me – I wanted to trick people who “only liked literary fiction” into picking it up

Karena: It’s a fine line right? like not wanting it to get lost, but also if you keep it sff, then it shows SFF is selling and then they let you buy more. I’ve done both, swapped things to fiction and swapped stuff out of fiction for the same reasons

Jess: so on to The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. why did you pick that one, of all her work?

Karena: I’m so thrilled we both picked the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. that was my first Jemisin when i read the omnibus and it was amazing. I think The Fifth Season is too dense for a new person. I used to actually rec it first but in retrospect I think The Hundred Thousand is more accessible. And the Dreamblood isn’t bad either but I LOVED The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Jess: yes! same The Fifth Season is too much of a mindfuck for a newbie. also – I have this theory that you shouldn’t start with an author’s best work, you’ll just be disappointed by everything after

Karena: very true!

Jess: I have a friend who read American Gods first of Gaiman’s work, and now she’s hated everything she’s tried. whereas I started with Neverwhere, so the bar was much lower

Karena: oooh. yeah no. I almost picked Neverwhere. but then decided A Darker Shade of Magic took care of the London fantasy. and The Unkindess of Magicians did more of a modern fantasy

Jess: yeah, two London fantasies would be a lot

Karena: And lila bard is the best

Jess: I was going to choose A Darker Shade of Magic, but then went with Ten Thousand Doors instead. so why Unkindness over Roses and Rot? did you like that one better?

Karena: I fucking love both those books so it was hard. again, Roses and Rot feels more literary and I already had The Night Circus for that. Unkindness feels like a good fluff fantasy. Like you should still take it seriously but it’s fun. Roses and Rot is a bit on the dark side for a newbie imo

Jess: oh that’s interesting! I don’t remember it as being particularly dark. I read it a long time ago

Karena: I think the backstory with the sisters and the mother? but i also read it a long time ago. that’s just the impression it left on me

Jess: I’ll agree with you though that Unkindess is a lot of fun. and so feminist, it’s great.

have you read Vengeful?

Karena: yup. of course i have.

Jess: good, just making sure! those two go hand in hand for me, because they’re all about women’s anger being AWESOME

Karena: oh yeah i can so see that. I loved the illusions and whatnot too in Unkindness

Jess: yes! you know I love a good magician story

Karena: YEESSS. same

Jess: so I’m mostly on board with your list, but I do have to know – why Sorcerer to the Crown? I have to admit, I was left less than impressed by it

Karena: I liked it and was also trying to add a bit of diversity to my list. although The True Queen might be a stronger choice out of Cho’s books

Jess: that’s fair. I wasn’t super happy with all of the cishet white ladies that were on mine originally. that’s why I swapped to the Gailey, too (editor’s note: Gailey is non-binary and identifies as queer.)

Jess: so one more question – if you had to choose ONE book from your list – someone comes in and says “hey I want to be converted to a fantasy lover, I will buy whatever you put in my hands” – which one are you giving them?

Karena: Oh wow. hmmm. A Darker Shade of Magic. I don’t really have a good reason tho. Like The Night Circus is a perfect book, but there’s something about ADSoM. it’s magic and it’s adventure and Lila Bard and a boy with bi colored eyes and a magic coat

So that’s where we left the conversation! What do you think of our picks? What would you recommend to a fantasy newbie? Are you new to the genre and inspired to pick up a book? Let us know in the comments!

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be joining Karena as we tackle the Hodderscape 2020 SFF reading challenge! Karena and I bonded over our shared love of all things SFF (but specifically The Night Circus) and have spent a huge chunk of our friendship shouting at each other about books.

About me: I’m a lesbian children’s librarian with an affinity for magic in my books and whiskey in my coffee. I live with a chaos demon (read: tabby cat) who I named after a character in The Night Circus. I have a half dozen literary tattoos. When I’m not reading, I’m….well, I’m usually reading, but I’m also a runner and enjoy cooking and knitting.

My SFF origin story: You know, I can’t really remember a time before I loved SFF. My mom handed me The Hobbit when I was 8, and it was love from then on out. I went to school with Harry Potter and dreamed about doorways in closets to icy wonderlands and read too much Stephen King at much too young an age and played Zelda games on my GameBoy Color until my eyes went buggy. Then I grew up. I grew up, and someone at some point told me that fantasy wasn’t “cool” anymore. So I dutifully read my classics and whatever was assigned to me in school and I got degrees in English and Comparative Literature and only read Very Serious stuff for years. (There were a lot of cishet white dudes during that period of my life.) When I quit my PhD program, I wanted to learn how to really love books again. I went back for the classics that I loved as a kid – Lord of the Rings and Stephen King and the like, and then I started exploring the SFF section of bookstores more. An incredible thing had happened during the time that I was away – SFF woke up. Suddenly, there were more women on the shelves! And more than cishet white dudes saving the world between the pages! And there was so much queerness! The worlds in these books were bigger and more beautiful and more interesting than anything I had been asked to read in college. I found underground libraries and magical circuses and spaceships full of found family. I traveled between Londons and lived through the fifth season and caught a sexually transmitted city. I started reading high fantasy and science fiction and middle grade fantasy and urban fantasy and magical realism and…you get the idea. I fell back in love with reading. Now, you can find me at school with Mia Corvere and Ivy Gamble and dreaming about doorways to worlds of salt and ink and reading too much Catherynne Valente.

The Quick Sheet: My wheelhouse: Queer ladies doing awesome things with magic or in spaceships or both.Authors on my autobuy list: Catherynne Valente. Seanan McGuire. Erin Morgenstern. NK Jemisin. VE Schwab. Sarah Gailey. (Okay, my wallet just started screaming in protest, so I’m stopping there.)What’s on my TBR: Right now? Godsgrave, because it’s been a long time since I’ve been so invested in a series that I had to grab the sequel immediately. Blue is the Warmest Color and We Set the Dark on Fire for my Coven Challenge. A reread of Drive Here and Devastate Me. A Mirror Empire because I’ve seen it pop up a bunch recently. And A Memory Called Empire for this challenge!Which books on the Challenge I’m looking forward to reading: All of them? No, but seriously. If I have to choose, The City We Became and Docile have been on my list for a long time, and I know those two will inspire a special amount of screaming with Karena.What do I do when I’m not reading: Training for my next race (currently the Brooklyn 2020 half marathon). Still playing Zelda games (just now on my Switch) until my eyes go buggy.

No challenge today. well technically there was, but it’s one looking for recommendations and 1) I don’t need recommendations at the moment and 2) it’s meant for their comments section. So let’s get on with the update!

I finished Daisy Jones and the Six. It was so good. I got so stuck in genre last year that I barely made a dent in anything else. I had so many people tell me how good it was. I will admit for the longest time, I thought it was a nonfiction about some band I’d never heard of (let’s be real. I don’t know about a lot of bands so this wasn’t that surprising). It was told in the style of an oral history that really added to the story. It was way more fun to follow the band’s journey with the back and forth of all the members and the people around them. I give it 5 stars for sure.

Fuck yes, Daisy.

I also finished Nevernight, my read along book. According to Goodreads it was my 3rd reread of it and I still love it. Jay Kristoff is a sneaky sadist shit and I love him. I don’t say that lightly. There aren’t very many cis straight white authors who can entertain me the way he does (maybe Nicholas Eames).

Total pages read: 357. Not bad. I mean, it’s nothing compared to the previous day, but to be fair yesterday I was battling some wicked allergies so I’m content with what I did accomplish.

No one knows why Tuesday is new release day, but are we really going to look a gift horse in the mouth? Every week I’ll post books that I’m excited about.

Horror Stories by Liz Phair

I have to admit on this one, I have only one Liz Phair album that I’ve listened to (I’m actually really bad at music in general), but it holds a lot of memories for me and also I do dig musician memoirs so I definitely can’t wait to jump into this one. I’m participating in Nonfiction November (basically just read a bunch of nonfic) and this is totally in the stack to enjoy.

The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman

I am pretty sure I’ve mentioned I don’t do horror, but recently I talked to Nicole from Quirk Books and she was totally raving about this one so I’m going to give it a shot. Seems like a good month to scare the crap out of myself. Here’s the thing…all I have is a digital ARC so I can’t hide it in the freezer when I’m terrified. Send me suggestions!

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

I love Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom so much (remember magic heists are my jam), so I knew Bardugo had it in her to write a book for adults. I didn’t get my hands on an ARC this time around, but have already preordered my copy. I can hardly wait. There’s a lot of good buzz going around so I doubt we’re going to be disappointed. (Speaking of 6ofC did you all see this?

That’s it for me. Let me know what you’re planning on picking up this week.

I knew my list was too short yesterday! I had been using the wrong filter on my book document. Here are the rest of this week’s new releases that I am excited for you to pick up!

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

This is actually the first of Guillory’s books that I haven’t read before the pub date and I’m sorry for it. Her books are a bit more on the tamer side so if you’re looking for steam, this isn’t your book (but I may have something later on for you), but they are fun books and if you want to save this one for the holidays, who’s gonna stop you?

Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik

This is the spicy I promised. Not burn your mouth hot, but enough to make it interesting. I really am digging this sci-fi romance series, and it is most definitely a romance which is so much fun. Adventure, kissing, a princess who is not here to play? What’s more do you need? Maybe a dude who gets in her way at every turn? Mihalik’s got you covered. Strap into your bunk for this good time.

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith

A debut novel about witches who help make wine? Um, yes please? I didn’t get an ARC of this one in time so I’m just as much in the dark if the premise is executed well, but wow, the concept it ringing all my bells. It may not be a spooky book (and tbh, I’m not here for the bumps in the night), but this feels like the perfect book for the season. I also am really digging that cover. So pretty.

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith

I’m in the middle of reading this one now (along with at least 4 other books) and it was one I started before the move, but man what a premise. A library in Hell? Muses? Demons? Books that gain sentience? Damn you move for making me put this one aside. Another great cover. I’ll let you all know when I’ve finished if it is a keeper, but from what I’ve read, I’m definitely into it.

Again, Sorry about the missed books, but really it gave your credit card a bit of a break, right? Let me know in the comments which ones you have picked up or are planning on reading!

No one knows why Tuesday is new release day, but are we really going to look a gift horse in the mouth? Every week I’ll post books that I’m excited about.

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl by Theodora Goss

I picked the third book of the Athena series up in August and haven’t quite gotten to it yet, but what I’ve read of the first two books I have thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe October is just going to be me finishing all the books I have s started and forgot to go back to.

Crier’s War by Nina Varela

Queer SFF YA for the win. This debut novel promises to be something we can curl up with and lose ourselves in. From the reviews I’ve read it’s got lots of positive queer and lady rep which gives me all the hope. I have my ARC somewhere…moving is the worst, y’all. As soon as I find my copy, I’ll report back if it was everything we hoped for.

Looks like the first week of October is a light one for me. Next week has a few more. In the next month or so we’ll start seeing our Fall releases so don’t lose hope!

Every week I share which ARCs I’ve picked up from Edelweiss or Netgalley.

Edelweiss

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

I have a soft spot for historical fiction featuring witchy women: women with healing talents, midwifery, or just straight up magical powers. I’m really interested because this is a story that looks into the history of the mysticism of the people of the Caribbean and frankly we need these stories to remind us, there’s a wide world out there with stories to share.

Pub date: March 17, 2020

The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard

Howard is a new-to-me author and this is the start of a brand new series so it seemed like a good time to try her out. We have a marriage of convenience trope which as you know is my fave. I’m curious to see how she’s going to handle the obvious Beauty and the Beast retelling. It takes a clever hand to make it something new.

Pub date: November 26, 2019

The Worst Best Man By Mia Sosa

Mia Sosa has been writing for Avon’s Impulse line which is ebook only and now they’re bringing her over for their main line. I’m thrilled because that means not only do we get another AoC getting the recognition she deserves, but we get more awesome stories. I see another of the illustrated covers which makes me sigh, but the enemies to lovers trope is a fun one to explore.

Pub date: February 4, 2020

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood

I will take all the queer fantasy writers. Add in an Orc MC and I’m *chin hands*. Why am I not surprised it’s a Tor title? This year we had necromancer nuns, next year? Orc priestesses. The acquiring agent Lindsey Hall is a freaking genius who also was the one to acquire Kings of the Wyld which is also a fave of mine.

…I’d love to tell you that I’ve read nine million books this week so I’ve acquired ten million, but that’s not the case. I got caught up in this Sims 4 decades legacy challenge which is a blog post in itself (but maybe not this blog) so reading has gone slowly. Let’s see what’s been picked up, however.

Netgalley

The Seduction of of Lady Phoebe by Ella Quinn

I’m reading this right now. I’m a fan of Quinn’s Worthington series (not to be confused with Celeste Bradley’s Wicked Worthington series, which I do all the time) and this looks to be a reissue. I haven’t read it though so fun times. This seems to be one of those rarities where the male MC is in love with the heroine right from the start, except…he makes a cake of himself and has to fix his approach…eight years later.

Pub date: October 29, 2019

The Highlander’s Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kell

I…usually am not a fan of seasonal tales (although where are my Halloween ones??? I want autumn walks through the leaves), but Vanessa Kelly is one of those authors I’ll make exceptions for. Here we have a failed nun (probably a chapter title in my memoir, to be honest) and the Highlander sent to escort her home. This is bound to go well.

Pub date: October 29. 2019

Edelweiss

The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer

Tor. Do you have spies in my house? I’m guessing yes. Consistently they put out books that speak to my soul (Hi Gideon the Ninth). Also let’s talk about that cover. There’s so much too unpack: skull, swan, eyes…Our story takes place in Gilded Age New York and wow, this looks amazing. I think I’m gonna have to switch up my TBR a bit and move this one up the list. I have high hopes for it.

Pub date: April 7, 2020

The Cerulean Queen by Sarah Kozloff

…Tor. This is the conclusion to A Queen in Hiding which is strange because the books between the first and the last aren’t available as ARCs yet. However, I’m absolutely intrigued by the concept Kozloff and Tor are about. Each book in the series is being published one month after another, which is unheard of. It’s kind of a Netflix binge. I enjoyed the first in the series and I’m definitely interested to see where we go. *

Pub date: April 21, 2020

Forever and a Duke by Olivia Drake

Did I pick this up because the dude MC has my maiden name? No. Was I pretty thrilled that an author I enjoy used my maiden name? Yes. Here we have a duke who needs a bride and an American who does not, under any circumstance, need a duke. This lady has shit to do, and he ain’t one of them. I’m always here for when the menfolk have to win over the ladies and aren’t all “love is for losers.”

Pub date: December 21, 2019

Docile by K.M Szpara

Tor. We get it. You’re the cool kid at the table. Fine. I’ll sit with you. Stop begging. I’ve heard sooo many things about this book. All of them good. As soon as I saw it was up for download, I jumped on it with the quickness. See that Charlie Jane blurb? Also Sarah Gailey is into it. The premise sounds terrifying. Having to sell yourself to pay off parental debt? I’m gonna need a lot of fun, squishy books after this. I can feel it.

Pub date: March 3, 2020

That’s it for me this week. Did any of these make your TBR? Have your own acquired ARCs you want to share with the class? Let me know in the comments.

I’ve been battling a cold, but luckily that gives me even more time to read and pick up ARCs. In this week’s news Kensington must have just gotten tired of pushing that approval button on Netgalley so much because they granted me the coveted “Auto approval” which means any books they have up on the site, I just get to download it without asking permission. Very exciting. Speaking of Netgalley, we’ll start with them.

Netgalley

The Merry Viscount by Sally MacKenzie

Last year I got a good chunk of my non romance reading bookseller coworkers to read What Ales the Earl by MacKenzie and it was a hit so when I saw the next in the series was available…the clicking was so fast. I read it in one sitting, it’s on the shorter side, but wow. So spicy. It’s a little of an insta-love trope, but it works. I had a good time.

Pub date: September 24, 2019

Blitzed by Alexa Martin

This is the third in Martin’s Playbook series. While I generally don’t read any sports romances, this series has charmed the hell out of me. Brynn, our main character, has been in the last two books as a side character and I’m really glad to see more of her in this one. Martin writes from a bit of experience in the field (hahahaha. nope I’m not sorry) as she is the wife of a former NFL player. This one is bound to be a good time.

Pub date: December 3, 2019

A Jewel Bright Sea by Claire O’Dell

I’ve been reading O’Dell’s Janet Watson series which is a twist on the Holmes canon by making both Sherlock and Watson black queer women and have really enjoyed it so seeing that she had something new on the horizon sparked my interest. This seems to be a heist fantasy which is definitely in my Venn diagram of read it now. Good news, it’s already out so you can pick it up as well!

Pub date: September 3, 2019

Edelweiss

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

Right after I finished last week’s post, this beauty came up on my Edelweiss. It’s the second book in the Gilded Wolves series which is a YA heist fantasy (remember what I said about heist fantasies) and the first was one of my favorite books of last year. I’m excited to see what the gang is up to. This read very crossover to me, great for YA readers and great for adult SFF readers who have read everything.

Pub date: February 4, 2020

The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe

This is the second in Shupe’s Uptown Girls series and it takes place in Gilded Age NYC. I usually stay on the other side of the pond in this era, but I’ve read Shupe and a couple others and I must say, I might have been missing out. Also he’s the owner of a casino which in Regency would be a hell and hello, I’m listening. Bad boy meets rich girl trope has become a weakness as well, I firmly blame Sarah MacLean. She’s probably cackling right now

Pub date: December 30, 2019

That’s it for this week. What did you pick up this week? Share your literary loot in the comments.

While I was a bookseller I became a front list addict. Rereading? Only for my truest love The Night Circus. If it wasn’t brand new, I didn’t read it. To be honest, if it was already out, I probably skipped it. I lived on Edelweiss and in the book buyer’s office, scoping all the Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs). A bit has changed now that I’m on hiatus. I’ve done a few romance series rereads like Julia Quinn’s The Bridgerton series to prep for the show and as I’ve mentioned lately I’ve been going through some of those ARCs I never got to through the Bout of Books readathon. But honestly, I’m still front list at heart and luckily the blog gives me a reason to read ahead as it were. Let’s see a few titles I picked up this week.

Netgalley

This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman

This is the first in a new series by Bateman. I haven’t read her before so I’m excited. Folks, this is a second chance romance with a marriage of convenience which is catnip for me. Heiress marries a condemned prisoner to save her fortune from a villainous cousin only to find out…hubby was actually working undercover. Now what? I don’t know, but I’m super excited to find out

Pub date: October 29, 2019

Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton

I really liked The Queens of Innis Lear which was a spin on Shakespeare’s King Lear so I’ve been waiting for something new from Gratton. Lady Hotspur is a retelling of The Bard’s Henry IV and takes place in the same world as her first book which fascinates me. We get to follow a fallen queen, a knight turned heir to the throne, and a weapon of warfare who is caught between them both. There seems to be a queer subplot which I am super down for.

Pub date: January 7, 2020

The Throne of the Five Winds by S.C. Emmett

I didn’t know this when I requested it, but S.C. Emmett is a pseudonym for Lilith Saintcrow. I’ve read a few of her urban fantasy series back in the day, but it was so long ago, I couldn’t’ tell you why I stopped. Goodreads tells me this is an East Asia inspired epic fantasy following two queens, two concubines, and six princes. I like a good court intrigue so I’m…interested. This is the first installment of a trilogy according to the Orbit announcement.

Pub date: October 15, 2019

Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner

This debut novel was blurbed by one of my favorite authors, Kat Howard and also can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is? The main characters are a would-be mage and a troll who are investigating troll murders. This is not something I’ve seen before and I really can’t wait to jump in and see where Waggoner takes us.

Pub date: November 5, 2019

Edelweiss

Engaged to the Earl by Lisa Berne

Engaged to the Earl is the fourth in the Penhallow Dynasty series which I have been reading and enjoying. Not sure what our trope is in this one yet from the description. Whatever the official one is for dude leaves to find adventure, comes back to find dreamy girl has grown the fuck up and looking gorgeous. Also she’s engaged so she’s gonna have to pick between the guy everyone likes and the guy no one’s heard from in years. What’s a girl to do?

Pub date: February 25, 2019

Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel Mallory Ortberg

I read Ortberg when he ran The Toast and his book Texts From Jane Eyre but was too scared to read The Merry Spinster although one of my horror loving friends adored it. I’m a sucker for a good essay collection and this one sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun. Pop culture is where Ortberg excels and I expect this to be a good time.

Pub date: January 28, 2019

What new books did you pick up this week? Is there anything you’re looking forward to reading this fall?